Mark Richardson to retire?

With a press conference to be held in about 10 minutes, one can only presume he'll either announce his retirement effective immediately or for the end of the season.

Richardson's questioned whether he wants to continue playing in his newspaper columns, and speculated about retirement last season until the English series renewed his enthusiasm. It's important IMO to remember that playing cricket isn't some kind of military service, and at 33 he's perfectly entitled to move on to something new.

However there is a bit of a 'rat off a sinking ship' feel to this, with NZ's test team nowhere near ready for another high-profile loss. Richardson's class clown streak is fast leading him towards the career in the media, but goofing around on TV won't seem quite so amusing to me if NZ can't cobble together an opening partnership out of Papps, Jamie How, Sinclair or Fleming (the latter would require a backflip from Bracewell).

How (23 y.o.) has impressed CW posters like me and Tim before, and there's always been hints in his game (particularly his pull shot) that on international pitches his results will be more impressive. We were both disappointed by his 'A' tour of S. Africa, but now with 105 and 100* against Otago to start the domestic summer he seems to have vaulted himself right into contention.

On the national bank cricket company he told Danny Morrison that it has been in his mind for a while, but if his performances are not up to the black caps standard, then he would be considered as an "extra". He made 43 or something for Auckland in the recent match against ND.

Wow! One of the more bolt-from-the-blues of recent times, here!
TBF to some correspondants, there has been prediction of the possibility on here.
Premature? Quite possibly IMO, but if you've lost your desire, that's that. Without the desire, there's no point playing on at all.

With a press conference to be held in about 10 minutes, one can only presume he'll either announce his retirement effective immediately or for the end of the season.

Richardson's questioned whether he wants to continue playing in his newspaper columns, and speculated about retirement last season until the English series renewed his enthusiasm. It's important IMO to remember that playing cricket isn't some kind of military service, and at 33 he's perfectly entitled to move on to something new.

However there is a bit of a 'rat off a sinking ship' feel to this, with NZ's test team nowhere near ready for another high-profile loss. Richardson's class clown streak is fast leading him towards the career in the media, but goofing around on TV won't seem quite so amusing to me if NZ can't cobble together an opening partnership out of Papps, Jamie How, Sinclair or Fleming (the latter would require a backflip from Bracewell).

How (23 y.o.) has impressed CW posters like me and Tim before, and there's always been hints in his game (particularly his pull shot) that on international pitches his results will be more impressive. We were both disappointed by his 'A' tour of S. Africa, but now with 105 and 100* against Otago to start the domestic summer he seems to have vaulted himself right into contention.

That's a bit rough - during brief stints in the commentary box, cricket writers and commentators have been impressed by his analytical mind. He's a fairly intelligent fellow to who cricket isn't the be-all and end-all.

In an interview with Graeme Hill about half an hour ago, he said he wasn't enjoying playing the ''Mark Richardson'' game anymore, and that game was the only way he would succeed in batting, so it was time to give it a miss.

I guess it has been coming though, as he has been talking for a while about trying to introduce more shots, and this has coincided with his slide in form.

I think its an excellent time for Richardson to retire. He has the respect of the cricket world and New Zealand cricket has had some series losses in the last year (Pakistan, England and Australia). They can only go up from here.

It gives kiwis the chance to find a young opener who could last 7-8 years..

Craig blew his chance and i don' think they will go back that way especially as he is 29.. they might as well find someone young who will be around for 10 years or so

Rules me out too - I'm 25, and I suck.

I had the pleasure of playing with Rigor for a season or two of club cricket in Dunedin, and he was one of the most easygoing and relaxed guys you would meet. He was happy to give me advice when I asked, and he was great value in the dressing room when the rain was coming down.

I hope he enjoys his retirement and putting his own unique spin on NZ cricket through his writing.

That's a bit rough - during brief stints in the commentary box, cricket writers and commentators have been impressed by his analytical mind. He's a fairly intelligent fellow to who cricket isn't the be-all and end-all.

Certainly no arguments that Rigor is an insightful reader of the game. My 'goofing around on TV' comment was more about him saying he was interested in being a TV weather man, Jim Hickey-style.

Richardson's smart but strikes me as a bit too flighty, and leaving an employer in the lurch mid-season (some may even say at a point close to crisis) doesn't really impress me if that's in fact what he's done. No matter how affable and candid you are, if you're moaning about being in poverty-stricken Bangladesh watching DVDs for a 6-figure living, you'll never really be my type of person.

We all have periods of a job that we don't enjoy, but I guess in Rigor's defence, passion is more of a defining aspect when it comes to playing a sport.